Step right up to this wall of fun! No clowns, no motion sickness—just a playful corner created after Clara’s crib left the room and the dresser was moved to the former crib wall. That change left the wall to the right of her bed wide open, so we decided to fill it with things she loves. Clara already had baskets of toys, books, and a play table where she builds castles and draws, but larger items like her play kitchen, refrigerator, and food cart had been pushed into other rooms for lack of space. With the crib gone, there was finally room for them all.
At first the blank wall looked pretty stark. Lots of white space to fill.
Project beginnings are usually messy, and this one was no exception. I gathered colorful art and pieces from her nursery and previous playroom and laid them out on the bed while Clara helped pick favorites. It was fun watching the layout come together.
Clara also wanted a mirror at her height, which felt like a must. She loves checking out faces and styling dolls’ hair, and having a mirror in her room means she doesn’t have to come into our room to use the large leaning mirror. We had an old mirror that we’d removed from our half bath, but the brassy frame clashed with the silver hardware on her play kitchen and refrigerator. A fresh coat of paint and a simple pattern made it much more suitable for her space.
To prep the mirror, I laid it on a piece of cardboard and wiped the frame with liquid deglosser to ensure the paint would adhere properly.
I used leftover trim paint (Benjamin Moore Simply White in semi-gloss) for a clean base coat. I painted carefully around the frame, including the small crack where the mirror meets the frame, and applied two coats for even coverage. A little paint on the mirror glass is easy to fix—just scrape it off.
To remove paint from the mirror surface, a straight razor or an X-Acto knife works well. Gently slide it along the glass to lift any spots of paint without scratching.
I had a small tube of metallic silver acrylic paint, so I dotted some onto the cardboard and used a flat craft brush to paint tiny arrow-like shapes around the frame. I spaced them by eye and embraced the handmade look—imperfections added charm.
The painted pattern dried quickly and added a playful, reflective accent to the frame. Clara loved having her own mirror, and it helps bounce light around the room while giving her a place to practice expressions and hairstyles.
Bonus: the mirror also lets us keep an eye on Burger.
Once everything was ready, I rehung the shelves John built for her first nursery and arranged Clara’s favorite art and the newly painted mirror. Lightweight frames were hung on picture nails, while the shelves were secured with screws and anchors to support toys and kitchen pieces. The mirror, being heavier, was hung with an anchor and screw and reinforced with two heavy-duty adhesive Velcro strips at the bottom for extra stability.
The shelves are perfect for displaying kitchen items, books, and toys, turning that wall into a small, engaging play area. Between the shelves, the play kitchen, the fridge, the food cart, the artwork, and the mirror, Clara has plenty to do in that corner.
The wall also complements her pink door and the raindrop-painted wall nearby. Clara can reach the top shelf and see herself easily in the mirror, with a bit of headroom left for when she grows—though we joked that no more growing is allowed!
The room feels much more finished now, though it will continue to evolve as she gets older. We’re already planning playful ideas for her walk-in closet—Clara chose this room partly because of that closet, and we hope to turn it into a hidden play space.
With the holidays approaching, we’re also crafting Clara’s annual handmade gift—always a last-minute tradition around here. Are you tackling any last-minute projects, shopping, or decorating? Adding small pockets of fun to a child’s room or finally hanging art you’ve been meaning to put up can make a big difference.